Promise Keeper

READ: LUKE 2:25-35

Long ago, God promised Simeon that before he died, he would see the Messiah. And so, Simeon waited.

I imagine that, as he grew in years and felt his physical strength lessen, Simeon became weary of anticipating and expecting. The Bible tells us that Simeon looked forward to “Israel’s consolation” (Luke 2:25). No doubt Simeon saw the trials of the nation around him and wondered when God would finally fulfill His promise—when the Messiah would finally come and crush the enemy to the ground (Genesis 3:15).

But still, Simeon waited.

At some point in our lives, we all wait for something. Sometimes it’s a new job, a relationship, acceptance into college, physical healing, or new friends. Or maybe it’s simply waiting for God to reveal the next step in our lives. But because God is good, gracious, and sovereign, we can trust that He will be with us in the waiting.

As we read through the stories in the Bible we see that, time and time again, whether it’s a covenant to an entire nation or a promise to a single person, our God tells the truth and keeps His word. We know that people don’t always keep their promises, and sometimes we have a hard time trusting because others have broken that trust in the past. But because of who God is and all that He has done, we can count on His words completely and fully.

God didn’t leave Simeon in a time of expectation forever. In Luke 2:28 we see that one day Simeon finally held the newborn Messiah in his very own arms. As he looked into the face of Jesus Himself, Simeon lifted up praise to God, the Promise Keeper. • Katherine Billingsley

• Can you think of a time you had to wait for something that was important to you? Are you in a time of waiting right now? Consider taking a moment to tell God about what you’re longing for. Even in the waiting, we can rest in His abiding love and constant presence with us.

• It can be helpful to remember that, even if the things we long for don’t happen, we can rely on Jesus’s promise to return and make all things new. Then all our longings will be fulfilled in His wonderful presence (Revelation 21:1-5). How can we find comfort in the fact that God never breaks a promise?

“…and you know with all your heart and all your soul that none of the good promises the Lord your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you.” Joshua 23:14b (CSB)